The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment continues to strengthen the socio-economic empowerment of Scheduled Caste communities through the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY). The flagship scheme aims to reduce poverty, create sustainable livelihood opportunities, improve infrastructure in Scheduled Caste-dominated villages and promote inclusive development through a technology-enabled and outcome-oriented implementation framework.

A senior official of the Ministry informed that under PM-AJAY, the Adarsh Gram component of the scheme has covered 47,316 villages, benefiting 47,59,399 citizens across the country. He said that a total of 46,782 development works have been completed, while 24,133 Village Development Plans (VDPs) have been prepared.

The Official informed that 16,759 villages have been declared as Adarsh Grams, reflecting significant progress in improving infrastructure, basic services and quality of life in Scheduled Caste-majority villages.

The Ministry has allocated the Central assistance of ₹22.50 Crore for F Y 2026-27 for construction of three hostel projects including two for girls to provide accommodation for 750 students reinforcing the Government's commitment to expanding educational opportunities for Scheduled Caste youth.

Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar said that PM-AJAY plays a crucial role in addressing socio-economic disparities through focused interventions, collaborative efforts towards empowering SC individuals and promoting inclusive growth. He said that the scheme promotes inclusive growth by empowering communities and strengthening grassroots institutions through convergence and community participation.

PM-AJAY comprises three major components aimed at holistic development of Scheduled Caste communities. The Adarsh Gram component focuses on integrated development of villages with substantial Scheduled Caste populations through infrastructure creation and community-led planning. The Grants-in-Aid component supports livelihood generation, skill development and income-enhancing activities, while the Hostel component provides financial assistance for the construction and repair of hostels to improve educational access for Scheduled Caste students.

The Ministry has adopted a robust digital governance framework through the PM-AJAY Portal and AJAY Mobile Application, enabling end-to-end online implementation of the scheme. The platform facilitates Village Development Plan preparation, project appraisal, fund tracking, beneficiary monitoring and geo-tagged reporting, ensuring transparency and effective monitoring at every stage.

The Ministry is working in close partnership with States, Union Territories and implementing agencies to ensure timely execution of projects under PM-AJAY. Through sustained investment in infrastructure, livelihoods, education and digital governance, the scheme continues to contribute towards building an inclusive and equitable society while empowering Scheduled Caste communities to participate fully in India's growth story.

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TAR/KV/GA